What made Klay Thompson choose the Mavericks over the Warriors? How Luka Doncic’s free agency choice affects championship race and other issues

Monday signifies the end of an era as Klay Thompson, a star wing, is set to join the Mavericks in a multi-team sign-and-trade involving the Warriors and Hornets, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Speculation about Thompson’s departure from Golden State had been circulating for some time, and now it’s official

with his agreement to a three-year, $50 million contract with Dallas. However, Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes notes

that the deal is not yet close to being finalized as the Warriors still need to negotiate their return for Thompson.

This move marks the departure of the four-time NBA champion from the team that drafted him 11th overall in the 2011 NBA Draft.

Thompson’s decision to leave the Warriors has been a topic of discussion throughout the 2023-24 season. Reports

indicated that talks between Thompson and the Warriors had not been productive, leading to increasing speculation

that he would seek a fresh start elsewhere to move past recent team tensions, as reported by Anthony Slater of The Athletic.

Over his illustrious 13 seasons with the Warriors, Thompson, alongside Stephen Curry, redefined the game with their sharpshooting prowess, securing four NBA titles.

However, Thompson’s relationship with Golden State soured in recent seasons, exacerbated by his recovery from

ACL and Achilles injuries, which affected his playing role. This culminated in a reduced bench role during the latter part of the last season, a decision he didn’t take lightly.

With the Warriors missing the 2024 NBA Playoffs, it became apparent that the core dynasty era might be ending. As

Thompson entered unrestricted free agency, it became increasingly likely that he would seek new opportunities.

Thompson reportedly considered offers from the Mavericks and Lakers but ultimately chose Dallas, seeing it as his

best chance to contribute to another championship run. Despite comparable financial offers, Thompson was drawn to Dallas, which was just three wins away from an NBA title this past season.

In joining the Mavericks, Thompson aims to prove he can still be a pivotal player in pursuit of another championship ring.

How Klay Thompson fits alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving on the Mavericks is quite clear.

Despite his recent injury challenges, Thompson remains one of the most prolific shooters in NBA history. He boasts

a career 41.3 percent shooting accuracy from beyond the arc and ranks sixth all-time in made three-pointers.

Even during what might be considered a “down year” last season, Thompson still managed impressive shooting

percentages—38.7 percent from three-point range overall and 38.1 percent on catch-and-shoot threes.

Dallas faced a need for enhanced perimeter shooting following departures such as Derrick Jones Jr. and Tim

Hardaway Jr., particularly after their 2024 NBA Finals campaign. Thompson represents a significant upgrade over these options.

While Josh Green is reportedly departing for Charlotte as part of the transaction, the Mavericks have added wings

Naji Marshall and Quentin Grimes during this offseason. These acquisitions are expected to help fill the defensive

void left by the departures of Jones and Green, given that Thompson, no longer the defensive force he once was, will rely more on offensive contributions.

Thompson’s scoring prowess will undoubtedly alleviate pressure on Dallas’ star duo. However, his defensive

limitations in terms of mobility could pose challenges, especially as the team gears up for playoff scenarios.